I know we like to talk about how rods feel here.  I’ve been using the max finesse a bunch and I’ve really enjoyed it.  Let’s break it down a little.

At 6’6, it is considered mid-range in terms of length as your classic JDM rods go.  It definitely is a good happy medium for a multitude of techniques.  I don’t feel that the length compromises too much even for techniques like dropshotting.  With a balanced setup between line thickness and lure weight, I can still bomb casts out super far with this and you can still control lures well.  Maybe at the longest distance with a dropshot, the angle of the bait in relation to the weight may not be as big which will cause the bait to be closer to the bottom but this is bound to happen for any long range DS application.

In terms of taper, this rod is a fast action, but it doesn’t have a comically fast taper like some of Daisuke Aoki’s older Fantasista rods.  It is a nice versatile fast that gives a nice lock up in the blank on a deep hookset, but it isn’t instant.  This gives it some leeway for guys throwing moving stuff and some hard baits even.  When you get into the butt section, it is sticky enough to keep fish pinned, there is an ever so slight bit of give in the butt that is almost like damper for head shakes.  I rarely lose fish on this rod, in fact I can only recall one time I have lost a fish on it, and it was fishing a raid Libero underspin, those baits have a terrible hook gap, couple that with the fact I was fishing in pretty strong current and the bite was during a lift and fall retrieve, the odds were stacked against me. The blanks are very sensitive, so slack-line bites are not hard to feel during slow soft plastic presentations. For guys who need a rod who can do many things, this is definitely one of them.  

Techniques I found were standouts on this rod include Neko rigging, weightless plastics, larger midstrolling, smaller shad-style hard baits, spybaiting oddly, dropshot, and the best of all, topwater soft plastic bugs.  Many techniques that you wouldn’t expect this rod to do well at somehow are handled superbly well.  It is definitely a weird feeling.

The other interesting thing about this rod is that a good number of ‘under 6’10’ medium light action rods on the JDM market fall off at higher weight ranges, an example being the Zodias 68ML (I know it’s a completely different calibre of rod).  I find that this rod handles well up to its advertised ⅜, all while having the delicate ability to handle super light rigs.  Its lower end is rated to 1/32oz which sounds incredibly low, but this rod can get pretty close to it.  I fished a 1/32oz Vespa with a 3 inch DSTYLE virola E on this rod and it could handle it incredibly well, the combined weight there with plastic and jig head couldn’t be much more than 1/16 honestly.  I also casted 1g stream fishing spoons on this rod just to see how it would do and somehow it was able to cast them, not at peak performance but it could do it.  Of course, balance with the right line would help with this.  

This rod uses titanium SIC guides, although the extreme spec models use torzite.  Nothing awfully special about the guide train.  The rod’s dry weight is 80 grams, that is very light and as a result, a full day of fishing it isn’t at all taxing on the body.  It really is incredibly easy to handle

The cork handles are in the right place (in front of the reel, as they should be haha) and I enjoy rods that have EVA on the butt end of split grips.  The signature blue Aoki colour scheme is also a thing to love, and knowing that the rod is one of the main tools of a guy like Daisuke makes it that much more special.  It isn’t the most beautiful or flashiest rod in the world, but it is certainly up there in terms of absolute performance.

In Canada, we’re looking at roughly 360-370USD for one of these rods.  In the greater scheme of things, it is an absolute bargain.  That performance for the price basically wipes out any remaining justification in buying USDM ever again.  If you can find them online from Japan, absolutely snag one and try it out, you can’t go wrong.  Sure, MIC is not the most encouraging thing, but I assure you this rod is incredible, and this is coming from a really picky bastard.  

Below are some cool pics, some are snapshots from a fight with a 5+lb smallmouth on that rod the other day.  I have a little tip bend test photo too.  Guys that bank fish, this is can be the only spinning rod you need to bring if you’re looking for one only.  Guys on the boat, no reason to not have something like this either.  I’d have a few of these if I could.  

The setup I have:

DHRS-66ML

Daiwa Luvias ST 2500XH

Varivas AVANI seabass 0.8

Linesystem FC 8lb leader 

pix to follow

Length: 6’11”

Power(Action): Medium Light

Line: 4-8lb.

Strike  2 - Blank resembles Gen I Ugly Stick

Ball   1 - Fuji reel seat

Ball   2 - Guides LOOK decent, will investigate further

Not warm and fuzzy about vendor.  Only second transaction with backlash.jp 

Transaction was broken into two parts:

     Initial purchase + shipping change

    Secondary shipping charge + tube charge + DHL insurance

Pix and additional info will be posted.

It's primarily for finesse worms like Do Live crawler, wacky Senkos, Do Live Stick, finesse stuff.

Some skipping under docks and tree limbs but not a lot.  Maybe finesse jigs.  Braid in the 15/16/20 lb + 10lb flouro leader.

I don't have a problem with USDM stuff like Daiwa Tatula, POSSIBLY even ABU.  I can't justify a top dollar Steez because it's maybe a 6 month season.

From what I've looked at, the GA-70HS-ST, although rated "Heavy", it might be what I'm looking for.  The Spin Cobra is rated MH

What is the "Holly Grail" rod for this  applicaition?